Substitute Bill No. 5348 proposes significant changes to the employment qualifications, roles, and responsibilities of paraeducators (formerly referred to as "school paraprofessionals") in the education system. Effective July 1, 2024, individuals hired as paraeducators must meet certain educational requirements, such as having a secondary school diploma or equivalent, completing two years of higher education, earning an associate degree, or passing a paraeducator assessment. The bill mandates that paraeducators work under the supervision of certified professionals and assist in various educational tasks, including classroom management and specialized instruction. It also requires regional educational service centers to develop a model for special education services and the Department of Education to create a training program for those involved in special education. Additionally, the bill enhances the rights of parents and guardians by requiring boards of education to notify them before proposing changes to a child's educational placement or services and to provide translated documents related to the IEP process when necessary.

The bill also addresses the administration of medication in schools, allowing paraeducators to administer medication under certain conditions, with immunity from civil damages for ordinary negligence. Policies and procedures for medication administration must be adopted by local and regional boards of education. The bill permits the administration of epinephrine and opioid antagonists by qualified school employees in emergencies and outlines the training requirements for these employees. Furthermore, the bill includes provisions for in-service training programs for school employees, including substance abuse prevention and emergency response training, with voluntary participation for paraeducators and noncertified employees. The bill revises policies related to physical exercise and discipline, ensuring that restrictions on physical exercise as discipline are not punitive and clarifies the roles of school employees, including paraeducators, in these situations. The term "paraprofessional" is consistently replaced with "paraeducator" throughout the bill, reflecting the updated designation of these educational support roles.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 10-155j, 10-155k, 10-212a, 10-221u, 31-51rr
ED Joint Favorable Substitute Change of Reference: 10-155j, 10-155k, 10-212a, 10-221u, 31-51rr